Connecting Communities Events Program

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:19): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Would the minister update the chamber about the Connecting Communities Events program announced as part of the government's drought support package last year?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:19): I thank the honourable member for her question. As members in this chamber would be aware, the government is currently administering a drought support package, announced last November. The package offers a range of assistance to primary producers in South Australia affected by drought. I am extremely pleased to report on how this initiative has been taken up thus far by our farming communities, indicating that the support package is hitting the mark, whilst of course also acknowledging that farming communities and individual farm businesses continue to experience very challenging conditions.

The state government's drought support package includes the following measures: $5 million for the on-farm drought infrastructure rebate scheme, which provides rebates of up to $5,000 to cover 75 per cent of the total cost of infrastructure activities that either assist in the management of dry conditions or increase preparedness for drought. Some examples of projects that may be funded include the setting up of stock containment areas, the purchase and installation of water systems for irrigation, or the adoption of technologies for drought management.

We have allocated $2 million to assist charities to cover the costs to transport donated fodder to assist farmers with feeding livestock. This rebate has been well subscribed by various charities, which have been doing charity hay runs over the last couple of months, with the support of the government. Of note were the Australia Day hay runs by Aussie Hay Runners and Need for Feed, as I think I spoke about in the last sitting week.

We also allocated an additional $1 million for additional health and wellbeing support through family and business mentors and rural financial counsellors. This is particularly important as drought conditions can have a very detrimental impact on mental health in farming communities, and the government wants to ensure that support is available.

Finally, we set up the Connecting Communities Events program, which provides grants for industry, community, not-for-profit, local government and incorporated groups to host events that foster social connections, provide wellbeing support, share experiences and reinforce the unity and the strength of rural areas.

I am very pleased to acknowledge some of the very notable events that have been held with the support of funding from the Connecting Communities Events Grant. One was the event held on 14 December 2024 at Victoria Park in Jamestown. It was hosted by the Jamestown Apex Club and was called '24 Drought—Resilience at its Best'. It was a free community event, I am advised, with activities for all ages, live entertainment and free meals provided by Smokin Grillers, which I understand do tasty barbeque treats.

I am advised that the event focused on 'strengthening community resilience by fostering a supportive environment focused on mental health, wellbeing and drought assistance'. I am told the event included interactive sessions, which ran from 4.30 to 6pm, and there were three concurrent sessions to choose from: cheese, champagne and chitchat; fun and games for kids, being laser tag, jumping castles, face painting and train rides; and finally, B&B, which was held in the shearing shed, with large games and live entertainment.

From 6.30 onwards the communal meal was served, followed by live entertainment from local artists, with the footy clubroom serving as a movie theatre for children with beanbags, popcorn and fairy floss. There were 900 attendees on the day, and by all accounts the event was a very big success. It really aligned very well with the spirit of the government's community events grant, bringing families and communities together, with activities to appeal to everyone, with mental health and wellbeing support available on the night.

My department, PIRSA, is also partnering with Primary Producers SA to run an event to screen Just a Farmer in April to raise funds for the Rural Business Support Relief Fund. The movie follows the main character, Alison, a recently widowed mother of two who is left to care for her father-in-law, who is struggling with alcoholism, and for her to attempt to turn around the failing family farm. The movie sheds light on the mental health struggles within Australian farming communities, which may often not be spoken about.

PIRSA has received a large number of applications for the Connecting Communities Events Grant by community groups, and I look forward to the rollout of further community events in the coming months.